New Boston College’s recently appointed head coach, Bill O’Brien, is prioritizing the implementation of a professional-style approach to navigate the shifting landscape of college football recruiting in the era of the transfer portal. This strategic move is mirrored by Dave Doeren, who is entering his 12th season as the head coach of North Carolina State.
Across the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and nationwide, football programs are ramping up their staff in response to the significant changes brought about by players’ ability to transfer between schools more freely and profit from their personal brand. This new environment has led athletic departments to establish NFL-style front offices to anticipate potential transfers and conduct advanced scouting in preparation for the transfer portal opening.
California coach Justin Wilcox, whose team is in its inaugural ACC season, highlighted the importance of expanding personnel resources, specifically within the recruiting and personnel departments, to adapt to the evolving college football landscape.
The conventional reliance on recruiting high school players and developing talent internally is no longer the sole strategy for building a successful program. College coaches are now actively tapping into the pool of experienced college athletes who are willing to switch campuses.
Data from 247Sports reveals that Power Four conferences, including the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Southeastern Conference, along with Notre Dame, collectively added 1,063 transfers ahead of the 2024 season, averaging 15.9 transfers per school. Notably, 17% of these transfers were four-star prospects, with six five-star additions.
In response to this new trend, schools are honing in on the art of identifying the right fit when targeting transfer players. Coaches are now tasked with predicting which players might become available in the transfer portal, assessing their potential contributions, and determining how they would integrate into the team’s existing roster.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal emphasized the importance of proactive measures in recruiting to effectively navigate the narrow window of opportunity presented by the transfer portal, which opens on December 9th.
At N.C. State, Doeren made significant organizational changes, hiring a general manager and expanding the player-personnel department to streamline the process of evaluating potential transfers. Similarly, schools like Florida State and North Carolina have substantially increased their staffing and budget allocations to adapt to the evolving landscape of college football recruiting.
The forward-thinking approach of implementing an NFL-like structure with specialized recruiting departments is gaining traction among college football programs. Coaches like Bill O’Brien at Boston College and Fran Brown at Syracuse are drawing inspiration from successful models in the industry to enhance their recruiting strategies.
Looking ahead, the evolution of these organizational setups is expected to continue as college football adapts to the dynamics of player transfers and the ever-changing recruitment landscape.